The Breakup Bet by Cat Carmine

 

Title: The Break-Up Bet
Author: Cat Carmine
Genre: Standalone Romantic Comedy
Release Date: January 31, 2019

 

Blurb

 

Never make a bet with a man who plays to win… 

 

Especially not a man like handsome, arrogant Connor Pratt.
AKA the huge PITA who’s currently crashing in my spare room.
AKA my brother’s best friend since they were about six.
AKA the one guy who still makes me feel like an awkward tongue-tied loser.
But when Connor moved in, I got a glimpse of another side of him. Because, like me, Connor’s going through a nasty break-up. And, like me, he’s just doing whatever he can to get through it.
Unfortunately, his method involves drinking alarming amounts of whiskey and watching a lot of, um … movies … that make every inch of my skin flush.
I’m just trying to be helpful when I tell him that he should try my way: copious amounts of baked goods, sappy romantic comedies, and late nights spent whining with girlfriends.
But I should have known Connor would take that as a challenge.
Now, he says he’ll try my way of dealing with a break-up … but only if I agree to try his. Six months rent to the person whose method works best.
We call it the break-up bet. And I’m going to win. Except right now, it feels like there’s a whole lot more at stake than just rent money…

 

My review:

Lucy has always had a crush on her older brother’s best friend Connor. Years after she last saw him, he is moving to New York and needs a place to stay, and she needs a roommate. Lucy’s brother connects them and he moves in. They are both recovering from unexpected breakups. Connor thinks Lucy should do what men do to get over a breakup, and she thinks he should do what women do. So they make a bet, and coach each other through the process. The first one to hook up and move on wins six months rent.

This was a pretty good book. I enjoyed it, but it wasn’t super original. The bro code thing came into play yet again (eyeroll) but it wasn’t bad like in some books I’ve read. Lucy and Connor have good chemistry, and they have history.

Overall, I enjoyed this one but didn’t love it.

Rating: ♥♥♥

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Author Bio
Cat Carmine writes contemporary romance and romantic comedy.
She also happens to like drinking wine, eating cake, buying too many books, and
snuggling with her elderly cocker spaniel (oh, and her husband too.) She loves
— and writes — books with sweet and sarcastic heroines and strong, sexy heroes
who like a little bark with their bite. She thinks witty banter is the best
kind of foreplay, and she tries to infuse all her stories with heart, humor and
heat.
Sign up to her mailing list to get an exclusive free book: http://smarturl.it/ccromancejoin

 

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Lass by Harloe Rae Review + Giveaway

 

 

Title: LASS
Author: Harloe Rae
Genre: New Adult/Friends-to-Lovers/Opposites Attract

Release Date: January 31, 2019

Blurb
Addison Walker is every fantasy I never dared to believe in.
Moving to this town was already monumental.
Finding her removes any lingering doubt.
She’s bold and vibrant.
Beautiful and confident.
Far too good for the likes of me.
Luckily, I’ve never been very good at avoiding temptation.
My desire is growing beyond control.
I’m done waiting on the sidelines.
When opportunity strikes, I eagerly take advantage.
Signing on the dotted line before thinking twice.
The repercussions cross my mind far too late.
When she swiftly sticks me in the friend-zone, there’s not a
damn thing I can do about it.
Addison is just down the hall—might as well be miles away.
Temptation drives me to the edge of sanity.
She speaks to my deepest cravings like a siren.
Our chemistry blurs every line.
This battle seems impossible to win.
Yet my determination doesn’t wane.
It only takes one night to change everything.
After all, I didn’t come all this way to settle for less.

My review:

Addison and Shane meet shortly after Shane moves to town and goes to the bar where she works to eat with his coworkers, who also happen to know her. He is taken with her immediately, but never gets over his shyness to approach her.
Jump two years ahead, and Shane finally gets the courage to ask her out. As he approaches, he hears her telling a friend about her roommate moving out and needing a new one ASAP. Instead of asking her out, he asks to be the roommate. Addison has been waiting for him to make a move for two years, and thinks he isn’t interested. She agrees and declares they will only be friends if they are going to live together.
They eventually become more, of course.
Addison and Shane are good for each other. He has a difficult background – escaping after being raised in what is basically a religious cult. He has been disowned by his parents who see him as a disgrace. He was homeschooled, was raised to believe that attraction to anyone was a sin, and never spoke to anyone outside their compound before leaving. Addison is his opposite: bubbly, outgoing, raised by loving parents who adore her with a circle of close friends. She brings him out of his shell, and he calms her.
This book took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and it was perfect. It was the catalyst the two of them needed to have big conversations they were neglecting.  It also brought about some incredibly sweet moments.
At first, especially the prologue and first chapter, I wasn’t really crazy about Shane, but he grew on me as he opened up. His character grew so very much over the course of this book.
Overall: It was good. I didn’t LOVE it, but I’m glad I stuck with it and finished it.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
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Excerpt
“Are you sure?” Because she isn’t acting like it.
“Yeah, this will solve the questioning.” That doesn’t sound
so great.
I rock back on my heels. “About?”
Splotches of red stain her cheeks. “Ah, well… if this,”
she motions between us, “was heading in a romantic direction.”
I feel the blood drain from my face. “What do you mean?”
“If we’re living together, the potential of us dating is
zippo. We’ll be roommates and friends, but that’s all. Otherwise it will be
awkward and tense and blah. No, thanks. Setting this boundary will cut out the
possibility.”
I choke on the brick lodged in my throat. “Wait, what?”
“Can you imagine the mess we’d be stuck in if things went
sour? Better to not chance it, right?”
No.
No, no, no.
I blink slowly, trying to process her words. Is this an
unwritten rule I wasn’t aware of? And what, now I’m trapped in the friend-zone?
I avert my eyes, glaring at a neon sign stuck to the far wall. An outcome that
doesn’t involve us as a couple seems impossible. I rapidly search for a
counter-argument, begging for a way out of this mess.
What the hell happens now?

 

Author Bio
Harloe Rae is a Minnesota gal with a serious addiction to romance. She’s always chasing an epic happily ever after.
When she’s not buried in the writing cave, Harloe can be found hanging with her hubby and son. If the weather permits, she loves being lakeside or out in the country
with her horses.
Harloe is the author of Redefining Us, Forget You Not, Watch Me Follow, GENT, MISS, and LASS. These titles are available on Amazon.

 

Author Links
FACEBOOK PROFILE / PAGE 

 

Everything’s Better With Kimberly Review + Giveaway

 

Title: Everything’s Better with Kimberly
Author: Lucy Eden
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 31, 2019
Blurb
Kimberly Simmons is gorgeous, brilliant, and way out of my league. She’s definitely not the type to fall for a guy who walked away from his family’s fortune to become an
architect. Good thing, too, because she works for Wolfe Industries, making her
completely off-limits. Nailing this pitch to Wolfe’s CEO is exactly what I need to make my bosses forget about the last time I mixed business with pleasure. Too bad she has the most beautiful brown eyes and dazzling smile I’ve ever seen. Too bad I can’t stop staring.
Adam Price is a talented rising star architect at Will and Peking Designs. His newest design submission for The Wolfe Industries Caribbean Expansion is set to dazzle my
CEO. If Adam’s design wins, with my help, I could get promoted, which means his big strong arms and gorgeous lips are strictly forbidden. It’s a good thing, too, because he has a reputation for leaving a trail of broken hearts all over Manhattan and I’m pretty sure I couldn’t survive a second heartbreak. Too bad every word he says makes me smile. Too bad he gives me a sense of calm I haven’t felt in a long time.
Keeping their relationship strictly professional for the sake of their jobs was the perfect excuse to stay away from each other. Too bad fate and undeniable chemistry have other plans…
This standalone, workplace/forced proximity romance features characters from the previous novellas Everything’s Better With You and Cherishing the Goddess, is full of
alphas and steam, and has NO cheating.

 

My review:

I loved this one!
Kimberly is my new Book BFF. I love her character. She is brilliant and strong-willed, and does not let anyone walk all over her. She learned that lesson already. She resists Aiden because she knows the double standard, and knows what a fling with him would do to her career. Aiden is completely taken by Kimberly. She makes him examine how he treats women, how he acts, and his values. They both grow as people over the course of the book, but he had a lot more growing to do.
I liked so much that this book had some realness to the fantasy. They each messed up in big ways, and instead of a quick sweep under the rug forgiveness, they dealt with it realistically. And the supporting characters! Aiden’s brother knew just the metaphorical kick in the pants Aiden needed to get his shit together. Kimberly’s family, including her Aunt Patrice, had me rolling!
I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about this one. Kimberly and Aiden complete each other perfectly.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
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Excerpt
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, but are you Adam Price?” It was his turn to be shocked and he smiled again. 
“I am. How did you know that?” 
The Man-Whore. I was sitting next to the Man-Whore.
Just a guess.” I shrugged.
“Well, I assume from your sudden change of expression, my
reputation precedes me.”
My poker face needed some serious work. I tried to plaster on a professional smile. “You studied architecture at The Pratt Institute for both undergrad and grad school. You’ve worked on an impressive number of international projects before becoming the youngest senior architect at Will and Peking Design. Now, you’re on your way to Barbados to pitch WP for a hospitality project for Wolfe Industries.”
“That’s pretty impressive and spot on.” He nodded appreciatively. “Who are you?” 
“Thanks,” I said with a nod, feeling like I’d dodged a very uncomfortable bullet. “I’m Kimberly Simmons. I work for Wolfe. I’ll be working with you on the pitch.” 
Author Bio

 

Lucy Eden is the nom de plume of a romance obsessed author who writes the kind
of romance she loves to read. She’s a sucker for alphas with a soft gooey
center, over the top romantic gestures, strong & smart MCs, humor, love at
first sight (or pretty damn close), happily ever afters & of
course, dirty & steamy love scenes. 
When Lucy isn’t writing, she’s busy reading—or listening
to—every book she can get her hands on— romance or otherwise.
She lives & loves in New York with her husband, two
children, a turtle & a Yorkshire Terrier. 

 

Author Links

 

Giveaway

 

Cover Reveal: Against the Boards by Samantha Lind

 

 

Title: Against the Boards
Series: Indianapolis Eagles #5
Author: Samantha Lind
Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance

Cover Design: Jersey Girl Design

Photo: Sara Eirew

Release Date: February 21, 2019

Blurb
Reese Blackwood
I’m called America’s sweetheart.
They say I have the voice of an angel.
I almost gave all that up, thanks to a traumatic experience at the start of my career. Instead of letting it define me, I chose to rise above. I showed everyone what a woman on a mission could accomplish, and now I’m living my dream.
After one chance meeting, my entire world changes. Austin is every woman’s fantasy, and he wants me. While the attraction is there for me as well, I don’t need any distractions right now.

Austin Jones

Focused.
Driven.
I’m the man I am today because I never let the idea of settling down disrupt being the best I can during my hockey career.
But then Reese floats into my life and everything changes, and now all I want to do is pin her against the boards.
They say opposites attract. You can’t get more opposite than Country Music’s hottest
female singer and a hockey player from Canada. With competing travel schedules,
our instant attraction appears to be doomed from the start. Can it really be love? Or is it just a hot ice-melting fling?

 

Pre-order Links

 

 

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Author Bio

Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey, and listening to country music. 
Author Links
FACEBOOK PAGE / PROFILE / GROUP 

 

Cover Reveal: Would Be King by Kim Karr

 

 

Title: Would Be King
Author: Kim Karr
Genre: Standalone Royal Romance

Cover Design: Hang Le

Photo: Wander Aguiar

Release Date: February 27, 2019
Blurb
A dare turns into so
much more…
All I want to do is get to work on time.

But a Prince Harry look-a-like is trying to steal my cab,

and that’s not going to happen.

In the midst of the battle,

I discover I lost my wallet.

So I bargain—a free ride for a kiss.

His lips taste like mint, and when he tugs me closer,

I can feel the hard muscles beneath his expensive suit.

The kiss ends just as we reach our destination,

and I’m so taken aback by the explosiveness of it,

I rush out without so much as a goodbye.

I’m a hopeless romantic with no time for distractions.

But fate, that bitch,

Has us pounding on the same locked door.

Already knowing I’m going to be fired,

I curse my new boss and his new rules.

The hot suit laughs,

And dares me to tell my new boss what a dick he’s being.

With nothing to lose, I accept.

Never in a million years could I have imagined he is my new boss.

Dating him is against the rules,

His rules.

He’s a rulebreaker, though,

And everyone knows a rulebreaker isn’t a forever-kind-of-guy.

So when he says let’s keep things casual,

I dare him not to fall in love with me.

But there’s a reason rules aren’t meant to be broken,

And finding that out is the hardest thing I’ll ever have to do in my life.

My rulebreaker has a name,

It’s Prince Maximus Montgomery.

And this is our story.

 

Author Bio
Reader * Chocolate Lover * Writer * Coffee Lover * Romantic
* Beach Lover * Yoga Beginner
Kim Karr is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eighteen
novels. Best known for writing sexy contemporary love stories, she enjoys
bringing flawed characters to life.

Her romances are raw, real, and explosive.

Her characters will make you laugh, make you cry, make you feel.

And her happily-ever-afters are always swoon worthy.

From the brooding rock star to the arrogant millionaire. From the witty
damsel-in-distress to the sassy high-powered business woman. No two storylines
are ever alike.

Get ready to fall in love.

Author Links

 

Release Day! Second Chance by L B Dunbar

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Second Chance, an all-new sexy, silver fox standalone from L.B. Dunbar is available now!

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Her.

A widow at forty-four, her husband left her a letter.

Contact Denton.

Once upon a time, the three of them had been best friends.

Mati Rath isn’t sure she should look back.

Her heart isn’t ready, or so she thinks.

Him.

A pleading phone call forces him to make a decision.

I’ll be there.

Yet, he hasn’t been home in twenty-seven years.

Denton Chance isn’t sure he should return.

The past still haunts his heart.

A desire that never left them, along with circumstances beyond their control, brings the past to the present.

Can one sexy silver fox face the woman he once left behind but never let go?

Sometimes love deserves a second chance.

SC_AVAILABLE NOW.jpg

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RTydoE

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SecondChanceLBD

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2zPTqEX

About L.B. Dunbar

I’ve been accused of having an over-active imagination. To my benefit, this imagination has created over twenty novels, including the creation of a small-town world (Sensations Collection), rock star mayhem (Legendary Rock Star series), MMA chaos (Paradise Stories), rom-com for the over forty (The Sex Education of M.E.), and a suspenseful island for redemption (The Island Duet). My alter ego, elda lore, creates magical romance through mythological retellings (Modern Descendants). My life revolves around a deep love of reading about fairy tales, medieval knights, regency debauchery, and strong alpha males. I love a deep belly laugh, a strong hug, and an occasional margarita. My other loves include being mother to four grown children and wife to the one and only.

LBDunbar.jpg

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Website: https://www.lbdunbar.com

 

Unlucky In Love by AJ Renee + Giveaway

 

 

Title: Unlucky in Love
Author: AJ Renee
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Blurb
Lucky in Love.
That’s the name of the dating app I picked, hoping to find Mr. Better Than Average so I can hold off planning my future as a cat lady.
I’ve been distracted eyeballing a tall, dark, and handsome Latin hottie who works in the library with me. He is way out of my league, and a woman has needs if you know
what I mean.
Finding a man shouldn’t be hard when all I have to do is swipe left or right. It’ll weed out the slimy men who have Bad Date written all over them.
Yeah, I’m learning quickly that I’m rather unlucky in love after all. The men I pick need warning labels, kissing lessons, and a good talking-to about manners.
Should I throw in the towel or will this series of bad dates be exactly what I need to win Mr. Right?

 

My review:

This was a cute read. Izzy is jumping back into dating, and trying it with the help of an app/online account. She has several horrible first dates, and even dates one guy for weeks before the crazy comes out. All the while, she is in grad school getting her Master’s Degree, working on campus, and drooling over Mario. When she’s spooked by a man following her, her boss sends her out with Mario to take her mind off the incident. But will he be another bad date?

What I liked: It was a fun read. Izzy and Val have a great friendship, and Jerry is a great boss/father figure for Izzy. I liked Mario a lot, too.

What I didn’t like: I’m not sure. I enjoyed this book, but didn’t love it. I think it’s because I’m definitely no longer near Izzy’s age so I didn’t really connect, but that is not a fault with the book or author. I think anyone who has ever dated can relate to the bad date stories!

Overall: It was a fun book. Cute and entertaining.

Rating: ♥♥♥ 1/2

ADD TO GOODREADS 

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Playlist

Womanizer – Britney Spears

Shake it off – Taylor Swift

Perfect Strangers – Jonas Blue

Show You – Shawn Mendes

You belong with Me – Taylor Swift

Treat You Better – Shawn Mendes

Photograph – Ed Sheeran

Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

Say you won’t let go – James Arthur

All of Me – John Legend

A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

Excerpt
Pouring milk into my mug, I watch the black and white colors swirl together until they
turn a pretty caramel. I didn’t sleep well, and the creamy mix is exactly what the doctor ordered. Hurrying, I flick the sugar packet and dump its contents. The door behind me opens as I toss the spoon into the sink and lift the mug to my lips. The satisfying liquid warms my insides, and I can’t help my sigh even if I tried.
“Rough night?” a velvety voice asks.
I take another sip of my glorious cup of joe before turning toward Mario. He started
working in the Reference Department three months ago and has featured in a few
of my dirty dreams. He’s gorgeous and about six feet three inches. Dark, tall, and handsome would describe him to a T.
I shrug and force my mind from the gutter. He brushes past me and grabs the spoon I just discarded. The first time I saw him do this, I yelped in protest, but it seemed
he really was another gross college guy. 
One with full kissable lips.
“You’re quiet this morning,” he says and leans against the counter next to me.
After the episode with Tristan last night, I can’t help but stare a second longer. “No,
just a date.” The words spill from my mouth. “I mean, I was up late.”
Mario’s mug freezes halfway to his lips, and an eyebrow raises as he stares at me.
“Fuck!” I slap a hand over my mouth in horror. My heart races, and I know my cheeks are bright pink. “I gotta go.” I squealed and run out of the break room.
Great job, Izzy! Now he thinks you were up all night fucking.
Calling myself a string of insults, I take the elevator down to the copy office. See,
we both work in our college library in different departments. I keep the copy 
machines and printers stocked with paper and toner, and Mario does whatever the
students in Reference do.
We both tend to be in the break room grabbing coffee in the mornings at the same time. If I’m lucky, I get a glimpse of him when I do my rounds. Our conversations
aren’t long, usually revolving around our mutual love of coffee. His doesn’t include milk, but his love of coffee runs as deep as mine.
I walk around the corner and sigh with relief when I find the door closed. My boss,
Jerry, isn’t in yet, and I know he’ll tease me if he spots the blush still on my cheeks. Jerry is old enough to be my dad and is the best boss I’ve had, not that there have been many.
Kicking the doorstop under the wooden door, I prop it open. I set my mug on the long
counter and take a quick peek at the staplers and empty the pencil sharpener
set out for students to pop in and use. My body goes into autopilot, and Mario’s lips come to mind. I wonder if they are they as soft as they look?
I reluctantly remind myself he’s out of my league. It’s not that I don’t think I’m pretty. I am, but I’m not the girl all the boys come sniffing around. They’ll look in my direction, but few take the next step. Of those who do, none are as handsome as Mario.
Author Bio

 

AJ Renee is the author behind the St. Fleur series, Beauty Unmasked, Winter’s Surprise, Surviving Paris, Finding Love at the Falls…, and Kylie: Crossing Lines. She’s a military wife and mother to three young girls. She graduated from the
University of Central Florida with her Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology while working at the library.
She loves to write steamy romance with suspense and a happily ever after. When she isn’t writing or interacting with her readers, you can find her spending time with
her family or reading. AJ enjoys traveling, researching family history, and all things New Orleans.
Author Links
Giveaway

 

Blog Tour: Work In Progress by Staci Hart

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Her fake husband is a Work In Progress…

Work in Progress, an all-new romantic comedy from Staci Hart, is available now!

Read my review here

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I never thought my first kiss would be on my wedding day.

But here I stand, clutching a bouquet of pale pink roses behind the doors of a Las Vegas chapel, and at the end of the aisle is the absolute last man I imagined would be waiting for me.

Thomas Bane.

Bestselling author. Notorious bad boy. Savagely handsome, dark as sin, chiseled as stone. And somehow, my soon-to-be husband.

Marry him, and I’ll land my dream job. Save him, and I’ll walk away with everything I’ve ever wanted. All I have to do is remember it’s all for show. None of it is real, no matter how real it feels.

But first, I have to survive the kiss.

And with lips like his, my heart doesn’t stand a chance.

wip - an

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2DmTuOU

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/WorkinProgress

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2QvdaTV

Excerpt:

The hall bathroom door opened, consequently stopping the earth’s orbit and flinging me into space for lack of gravity.

Thomas Bane stepped out of the doorway in slow motion, propelled by a cloud of steam that licked at his glistening body like it wanted to taste him. His hair was black, wet, curling and dripping in rivulets down the planes and valleys of his expansive chest and abs and narrow hips. He had that thing, the trough of muscle bracketing his hips that caught sluicing water and carried it in an angle that would eventually reach that unknown terrain beneath his towel. I saw the ghost of that terrain, the long, cylindrical bulge that was substantial enough to clearly state its presence, even through the thick towel.

He smirked, dragging his hand through his wet hair. I salivated, watching droplets of water roll down his forearm and collect on the tip of his erotic elbow.

“You’re up,” he said.

I blinked, not knowing when I’d set my coffee down or how many minutes—hours? years?—had passed in the time I spent ogling his body.

He sauntered into the room like he wasn’t basically naked. I tried unsuccessfully not to stare at his knees, the place where his ropy thigh connected, the angular muscles of his calves, the curve of his ankle, the broad pad of his foot.

He was perfectly proportioned. Michelangelo would have carved him twenty feet tall, and women would have worshipped at his perfect feet.

Gus bounced when he saw Tommy, his toys forgotten. And when Gus took off running, Tommy stopped, eyes widening and hands splayed in front of him.

“Gus, no,” he commanded.

To no one’s surprise, Gus did not listen. He barked once, snagged the hem of Tommy’s towel, and whipped it off him in a single tug that exposed every inch of skin on Thomas Bane’s ridiculous body.

Thank God my coffee was already on the counter. I’d have gotten third-degree burns.

For a split second, Tommy was frozen there in all his natural glory, poised to run after his dog, his face drawn and eyes locked on the sweet, disobedient dog. He wasn’t paying any attention to me.

I, however, gave him my full and undivided consideration.

His thighs were a mass of muscle so hard and defined, the tops were planes that came to a notch at his knee and a point where it met his hip. My eyes caught that trough that had before disappeared and followed it where it pointed—straight to the thatch of dark hair and the member nestled there.

The very thick, very long, mostly limp member.

If I stared at it a second longer, I was going to faint—my vision was already dim, my pulse pumping so hard, I could feel it in my neck, at the back of which a cold sweat had broken.

But he shifted to run after Gus, who was galloping away, trailing the towel behind him.

“Dammit, Gus! Gimme that!”

Then it was the back of him I saw, his hair, the streaming water rolling down all the curves of his shoulders, his back, the valley of his spine, and down to the most perfect ass I’d ever seen in real life.

Well, the only ass I’d ever seen in real life that wasn’t my own, and even that I couldn’t get a good look at without a mirror.

Seriously, that ass. That perfectly sculpted ass, round and tight and curved in the sides, shifting from one side to the other as he ran after the damn dog. My gaze caught a tattoo on one ass cheek, and I squinted at it, trying to make it out.

Tommy bent to snag the end of the towel—I caught sight of his sack and almost dissolved through the floor in an acidic puddle of embarrassment—but when he pulled, Gus spun around, ass in the air and tail wagging as he growled, pulling back.

A string of obscenities left Tommy’s mouth, but I was still gaping and staring at his ass. I realized that I was laughing. It sounded like someone else in a different room.

I wondered absently if this was how it felt to have a stroke.

About the Author

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life — a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can’t forget that. She’s also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She’s been a wife, though she’s certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She’s also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she’s been drinking whiskey.

From roots in Houston to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, sleeping, gaming, or designing graphics.

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Brazen by M Malone + Nana Malone

 

 

Title: Brazen
Series: Brazen Duet #1
Authors: M. Malone & Nana Malone
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: January 29, 2019
Blurb

 

Wham, bam, thank you ma’am? That’s my motto.There’s no room in my life for anything more complicated than a one-night
stand. I’m a bodyguard. It’s easier to put my life on the line when there’s no
one worrying if I’ll make it home for dinner.

But then the one woman who made me want more waltzes back into my life needing
my protection.

Despite our explosive chemistry, we can’t go there again. What happened in
Vegas, has to stay in Vegas.

Except the marriage vows neither of us remember.

 

My review:

Hailey’s family has a prestigious perfume company and she is the nose behind the brand. She has been working on a new scent tribute to her mother, and all the promotion and events that go around a new product launch. After a couple incidents, her father insists on hiring private security for her.
Oskar and his friends have a security company. All are former military and are good at their jobs. At the initial client meeting, Oskar is shocked to see that the client he is assigned to protect 24/7 is the girl he had an amazing weekend with in Vegas three years previously. A situation out of his control took him away from her then, and she never knew why he disappeared.  Neither of them have been able to forget each other.
Sparks fly when they are paired together, although she tries to resist him because she’s mad at how he disappeared (and busy with work). He tries to resist because he thinks his background and his job make him a danger to anyone he’s involved with so he avoids relationships completely. Neither can fight for long, though, and once the security company’s background check turns up that they actually married each other drunkenly while in Vegas, all bets are off.
I enjoyed this book for the most part, but I didn’t love it. The trouble is, I can’t really pinpoint why. I didn’t specifically dislike anything about the book, but it just didn’t resonate with me this time. I wasn’t expecting it to be a duet (apparently I’d forgotten about that) so it does end on a cliffhanger, but the second book releases in February. I’m hoping this duet will be like Nana Malone’s Royals United duet in that the second book is amazing after the setup of the first.
Oskar will go to any lengths to protect Hailey. We will see if he succeeds.
Rating: ♥♥♥

 

Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Coming Soon
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
M. Malone
NYT & USA Today bestselling author M. Malone lives in
the Washington, DC metro area with her husband and their two sons. She holds a
master’s degree in Business from a prestigious college that would no doubt be
scandalized by how she’s using her expensive education.
Independently published, she has sold more than 1/2 million
ebooks in her two series, THE ALEXANDERS and BLUE-COLLAR BILLIONAIRES. Since
starting her indie journey in 2011 with the runaway bestselling novella
“Teasing Trent,” her work has appeared on the New York Times and USA
Today bestseller lists more than a dozen times.
She’s now a full-time writer and spends 99.8% of her time in
her pajamas.
Nana Malone
USA Today bestselling author Nana Malone’s love of all
things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense novel
she “borrowed” from her cousin.
It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a
precocious thirteen. She’s been in love with kick-butt heroines ever since.
With her overactive imagination constantly channeling her inner Buffy, it was
only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin,
Nana works out her drama, passion and sass with fictional characters every bit
as brazen and kick-butt as she thinks she is.

 

Ruthless River by Lindsay Cross + Giveaway

 

Title: Ruthless River
A Men of Mercy Series Novella
Author: Lindsay Cross
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: January 29, 2019

 

Blurb
Laney was a woman on the run. Her ex-husband, who just happened to be a cop, had a penchant for violence and, after Laney took their daughter and ran, he had a promise for revenge. She’d made a new life with a new name and had plans to stay hidden forever, but even the best laid plans go wrong… Forced to rush her daughter to the hospital Laney’s location is revealed.Laney had vowed to never seek help from a man again, until Riser’s 200 pounds
of packed muscle made her his own personal mission. He vowed to protect her and
her daughter from her ex, but could she trust him with their lives when she’d
been burned so badly in the past?



Riser Malone was an admitted adrenaline junkie whose distraction on a crucial mission last year had resulted in complete failure of his objective: protect the girl. Unable to face his failure, Riser accepted every mission put before him, but a lull in the terrorist tempo left him with too much time on his hands back home. He needed a
distraction, and he needed it badly.
And that distraction showed up in the form of Laney and her daughter.

With an abusive ex bearing down on her, Riser saw his second chance at
redemption. And after one night with her, Riser knew his bachelorhood was over,
but if he ever had any hope for a relationship with Laney in the future, he’d
have to make sure her abusive ex-husband would never harm her again.

***previously released as Risers Resolve novella in Kindle World

 

My review:

Laney is a young mom with a 3 year old daughter who is very sick. The hospital ER is denying treatment since they have no insurance. Riser is a military man – Special Forces, SEAL, Ranger, something along those lines but he’s evasive about that when Laney asks. He makes the doctor examine the little girl, who needs an emergency appendectomy. in the chaos, a nurse tells Riser that Laney didn’t fill out all the paperwork so he uses information in her wallet to do it for her, thinking he is helping. Of course, this alerts Laney’s abusive police officer ex husband to her location and all hell breaks loose.

The synopsis sounded good, so I went into this book with high hopes. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. First of all, this is a very short book. It could easily be 2 chapters of a full length novel, and honestly a longer book would have made this a better story. The entire story takes place in one evening, except for a short epilogue set 3 months later. As it is now, things get a little ridiculous.

First, though, I’ll say what I *did* like. Laney is a great mom and a fighter. She will do anything to keep her daughter safe, including going head to head with the hospital staff.

The parts I didn’t like, though? I’m sorry, but that’s a lot. The very first thing that made my mouth fall open with disbelief (in a “there is no way that would ever happen” way) was when, less than 2 hours after her daughter was rushed away for emergency surgery, then a police chase and all the fear for her daughter’s health and both their lives, Laney practically jumps Riser and they sleep together. As a mother, and one whose child had unplanned surgery, I can tell you there is no way on Earth Laney can put aside that gut-clenching fear and worry and start banging the guy she barely knows, complete with multiple orgasms. Especially since they had to run while her daughter was still in surgery and she doesn’t know how it went. Granted, they weren’t strangers, but the extent of their prior knowledge of each other was first names only, since she was a bartender in a bar he frequented. And having worked in a hospital for a very long time, I can tell you there is no way a child will be denied care in an emergency due to no insurance. It’s illegal, and a hospital that did that would lose funding. Not going to happen. My other big dislike was the instalove. It’s no secret I hate instalove, but under these circumstances it’s eye-rollingly awful. There is no way that either one of them, with their backgrounds and baggage, suddenly got over all their issues overnight, especially not this night.

Like I said earlier, if this was a longer book and the plot and characters were better fleshed out, this could be really good. But this… it just isn’t.

Rating: ♥♥ (Borderline 1 ♥ but the potential bumped it up to 2. It’s redeemable.)

 

Purchase Links
AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU
Free in Kindle Unlimited
Author Bio

Lindsay Cross is the USA Today bestselling author of the Men of
Mercy series. She is the fun loving mom of two beautiful daughters and one
precocious Great Dane. Lindsay is happily married to the man of her dreams – a
soldier and veteran. During one of her husband’s deployments from home, writing
became her escape and motivation.

Author Links